what is something i should be prepared for with becoming a video/film editor
I'm assuming that the job wont be just me sitting in a room all day editing, I assume there will be meetings, face to face time with other people and I just don't know what to expect at all #film
2 answers
Sara’s Answer
Speaking from experience in television, I think you need to be prepared for the following: 1. Technology. keep up with advances and new tools, know how to work with different applications and devices so when they act up you can take steps to troubleshoot. This will also keep your work fresh if you can use different things that are state of the art. 2. You need people skills. Editing professionally can find you in a small, confined space for hours on end with one or two people that you are working for - they will be asking a lot of you, judging, questioning, changing things, fun or not so fun personalities - and you need to be able to handle situations professionally and courteously. 3. Watch other people's work. Expose yourself to all kinds of movies and media to see what's going no out there. 4. Linda.com or other resources for fun tutorials and continued education. 5. be prepared for long hours, very likely a non-traditional schedule as well. A project isn't done until it's done, so if that means a 16 hour day with a client because the piece needs to be delivered by a certain time and technology issues/content changes set you back, so be it. 6. To that end, be ready for CHANGE! Clients change their minds, stories change, something happens in the world and it impacts your project in ways you couldn't predict. Be prepared for lots of change. 7. Find ways to enjoy your craft as well. When it becomes work, you may need side projects to have fun and experiment. 8. Be prepared with good organization skills. You'll need to keep your clips and media tidy so you can find what you need easily. I can't say how important this is. It will make all the difference in time management and keeping your sanity when working on a big project. Organize and Save constantly.
Andy’s Answer
The workflow of a film editor is heavily dependent on your relationship with the director. You play the unique part of creating the final chapter of a story. In the film world, we like to claim that a "film is told three times"; first by the writer, then the director, and finally, the editor. Post-production houses don't carry the same physical stress/weather factors that sets do, but they do have their own set of deadlines to maintain. There is a stereotype that editors are introverts, but do not be deceived, an editor's work is reliant upon the ability to interpersonally communicate with a director and production team in order to fulfill the integrity of the story. I definitely recommend trying out Adobe Premiere, if you haven't already! It's a user-friendly editing system that is used by pros and provided by most educational institutions.